2004 Honda Odyssey: harsh or hard shifting

Filed May 13, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 141,000 miles · NJ

5/6/14 took my vehicle into the local service station for diagnosis of clunking engine noise. Had to pay $1400 to replace both motor mounts that were completely worn out . Also has to replace the outer tie rods that were worn out creating a completely unsafe vehicle. Less than a week later, the d light went black. Suddenly it came back on along with the check engine light. Took vehicle back to the service station and they now diagnosed it with the p0740 code tcc lockup solenoid. Called several transmission shops that told me the only way to fix this is to get a new transmission at a cost of $3500 and up. This is very discerning that the transmission didn't last longer and this is a known problem with this model vehicle and honda refuses to issue the recall on all 2004 transmissions. There are service bulletins out there referring to this specific issue. I called american honda and they refused to assist stating the vehicle is way out of warranty to assist financially. I have had all the service done at the dealer until there was an issue last year with the heating/air conditioner that the dealer was unable to successfully fix after 6 visits and numerous coolant flushes. I have no faith in that local dealership to help. Now I'm stuck with a money pit and can't afford to replace it. Never again honda. They have certainly lost my loyalty after all this. We dealt with the same issue with the 2003 acura tls transmissions that were bad, 3 transmissions later and no help from honda who knowingly covered up their faulty transmission problems and left consumers footing the bill.

Filed Apr 15, 2014 · Transmission · 75,000 miles · CA

While making a turn from a stop light, I noticed the green "d" drive light flashing. I contacted dealer who stated the transmission was about to fail and needed to be replaced. The mechanic stated that the transmission was noted to be "shifting heavy" into second gear and making a "clunk" sound when shifting. Despite being outside of the transmission recall, honda agreed to pay for 1/2 of the repair cost after multiple complaints to corporate. The new transmission came with a 3 yr/36,000 warranty. About 12,000 miles later, the "d" light again began flashing. I took it back to the dealer who replaced the second transmission with a third. I find it interesting that the mechanic noted the problem in second gear, the same gear affected by the recall that I was not a part of. I believe the problem probably affected many more cars than were included in the recall and I was forced to pay thousands of dollars to repair a known problem. I do not have a hitch and have never towed anything with this vehicle.

Filed Mar 5, 2013 · Transmission · 144,000 miles · TN

Second owner. Transmission replaced by honda in 2006 at 55,000 miles for noted gear overheating recall in sarasota, fl. Current mileage is less than 90,000 miles later. Transmission regular maintenance completed and a firmware update was done in 2009 at 120,000 (65,000 on new tranny) miles. Transmission now downshifts very hard (hard shift) from 3-2 when coasting downhill or if the brake is slightly applied when coasting downhill. Honda technicians stated normal operation to allow for engine braking. New firmware caused the change. Q4 2012 transmission now shifts from 1-2 in about 3 seconds, not slipping, but taking a long time to shift and prevents acceleration during this delay. Could prevent accident avoidance with long delay. Honda technician states normal operation and included in firmware to reduce damage due to recall. Note these issues are on the supposedly "fixed" transmission. Series of data suggests that the recall repair did not solve transmission failure problem, but was a band-aid in combination with firware updates to "buffer" 2nd gear manufacturing defects. I do not believe the transmission will survive to 100k miles, but has received excellent care and repairs. Safety issue is the inability to accelerate during 1-2 shift delay and unexpected engine braking during downhill coasting which could trigger rear-end accidents (note no brake lights when it occurs). I believe in honda and they should do the right thing and provide lifetime transmission replacements due to the safety concerns with their products that are well-known and documented.

Filed Jan 31, 2013 · Transmission · 197,000 miles · TN

Transmission was slipping and a hard shift between gears 2nd to third.

Filed Aug 6, 2012 · Transmission · 127,000 miles · MO

I was driving on the interstate using cruise control set at 70 MPH the posted speed limit when there was a subtle clunk like I hit a small bump and then the engine sounded like it was out of gear, it was revving and slowing down. I made sure it was in gear, it was and I turned the cruise control off and attempted to accelerate and the RPM surged but the speed continued to slow. There was smoke coming from under the front of the vehicle and when I looked in the rear view mirror there was a long trail of smoke behind me. I was able to get over to the shoulder safely.this is missouri highway 70, heavily traveled by semis. We had traveled 70 miles on the highway when this happened in 95 degree weather. I had it towed to the honda dealership and it was indeed the transmission and it had to be replaced at approximately $4,000. I had no prior warning signs, no slipping of gears, no dash lights lit, just a slight clunk and no ability to accelerate.

Filed Aug 13, 2009 · Transmission · 106,800 miles · CA

Transmission at 92,000 had dark fluid, metal on the magnet, loud whine, slipping gears. Over next 14,000 miles (while honda said there was not problem) progresses to rough shifting to the point of killing the engine. Finally refused to go into gear and was towed to dealership. Honda replaced with refurb transmission.

Filed Mar 16, 2005 · Electrical · CA

I have brought my honda odyssey to the dealer at least three times since purchased less than one year ago. Each time I asked them to look at the air conditioning system. I told them it made a "clunk" noise at start up. It was so loud, I thought it was the transmission. The first time, they told me they told me they could not reproduce the problem. The second time, they told me it was "normal" and gave me an internal copy of "A/C 'clunlk' noise on years 1999-2001" mechanical problem sheet. Hello!!! I bought a 2004 model odyssey!!. I called, complained, and got nowhere. I recieved another recall notice, and asked them again to look at the A/C "clunk" noise. I told them it was also happing when the heater was on, not just the A/C. Of course, they told me they could not find anything wrong. I have researched this problem. In the 1999-2001 odyssey model they had a "clunk" noise problem acknowledged by you. I do not see it for years 2003-04. However, I do have this problem and feel I have been sold a defective product. On one account, they did acknowledge the problem, but tried to convince me it was a "defect" from 1999-2001. I find this unexceptable.